Corn husking and harvesting machine.



B. C. SMALL. CORN HUSKING AND HARVESTING MACHINE.

- APPLICATION FILED JULY 27. I909.

LlfiUfiWfl Patnted Nov. 16, 1915.

9 SHEETSSHEET l- B. C. SMALL.

CORN HUSKING AND HARVESTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 27. I909.

Patented Nov. 16, 1915.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 2- B. C. SMALL.

CORN HUSKING AND HARVESTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 27 1909.

Patented Nov. 16, 1915.

9 SHEETSSHEETl3.

B. C. SMALL.

CORN HUSKING AND HARVESTING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JULY 27.1909.

Patented Nov. 16, 1915.

9 SHEET$-SHEET 4.

B. C. SMALL.

CORN HUSKING AND HARVESTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 27.1909.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 5- ill a r Patented Nov. 16, 1915.

L L wi L L EL! L LLLLLLLLLLLL L L L B. C. SMALL.

CORN HUSKING AND HARVESTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 27. 1909.

a Patented Nov. 16, 1915;

9 'SHEETSSHF'-'T 6.

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CORN HUSKING AND HARVESTING MACHIINE.

APPLICATION man JULY 21. 1909.

L 3 m Patented Nov. 16, 1915.

9 SHEETSSHEET 7- B.. c. SMALL. 7 CORN HUSKING AND HARVESTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 7. 1909.

9 SHEETS-SHEET a.

Patented Nov. 16, 1915.

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B. C. SMALL.

CORN HUSKING AND HARVESTING MACHINE.

APPLICATlON FILED JULY 27.1909.

I LWWWN. Patented Nov. 16, 1915.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 9- Ill-Ail! j mmw the proper release.

cured to the shaft or spindle of the sprockets (Z are the sprocket wheels f and 7" over which pass the overhead or holding feed chains 6 and The feed chain e is provided with hooks or fingers 6 adapted to engage the stalks and prevent them from falling back. and also feeding the stalks forward. It will be seen that the chain c is offset at its front end by passing over the guard 01' runway c to insure a positive entry of stalk, and at its rear end to insure The feed chain 6 is provided with hooks or fingers 6 adapted to engage the stalk andcarry it forward until it is engaged by the spring shields or blades (7 mounted on the rod or shaft 9 which is securely fastened to the frame. The short feed. chain (2 is offset at its rear end at the point that the stalk leaves it and engages the spring shields, the pur ose of the shields being to support the stal r while it is being fed forward by the feed chain 6.

As seen in Figs. 6 and 14, the lower end of the stalk is held in position by the feed rolls a and a and carried above by the feed chains 6 and (2 until the corn-bearing portion is carried in the path of the revolving spiral-shaped beater or knocker-bar E, where the ear of corn is knocked from the husk and thrown against the canvas guard F, which is fastened at one end upon the running board G upon which the chain 6 travels, and on its lower end to the trough or conveyer H, as illustrated in Fig. 8. The conveyer H consists of the ordinary chain H and 'conveyer blades H". As the corn enters the eonveyers H it is fed to the rear of the machine to the feed or delivery conveyer 1 running transversely of the machine, and is here conveyed to any suitable means of delivery. F astened to the trough H of the conveyor H and extending to the feed rolls a and a is the flat covering H to prevent the corn from falling to the ground Referring to Figs. 6 and 7 it will be seen that as the stalk leaves the feed chain 6 it is picked up or carried on farther by the supplemental feed roller it having spiral shaped projections or corrugations k which have a tendency to carry and hold the stalks in their relative positions between the spring shieldsand the feeding rolls. Placed above and running parallel to the corrugated roll it are the short withdrawing rolls z having longitudinal corrugations 2' which are arranged so as to catch any short pieces of stalk broken from the top, and draw them up out of themachine to prevent clogging,

as illustrated in Fig. 14.

Referring to Fig. 5, it will be seen that mounted upon the wheels J of the machine is the yoke-shaped frame j preferably composed. of pipe. F astened to the pipe 7' is the angle-iron frame'y, and inclined toward the front of the machine. Carried on the front end of the frame or angle-iron j (best shown in Fig. 2) are the feed rolls a and a. Mounted in the tapering end a of the feed roll a .is a stationary conical member a provided with a projecting pin or bearing a upon which the feed roll revolves. Preferably integral with the member a is a lug (1 extending back so as to come in line with the pin a, and pivotally connected thereto is the rod a mounted in the sliding supporting frame a and having interposed between the frame a and the rod 05* the spring a, which acts as a cushion or elastic member for the feed roll.

Secured to the frame a is the link a which connects with the bell-crank lever a" which is mounted on the casting or frame a carried on the angle-iron frame 7'. Secured to the other end of the bell-crank lever a. is the rod a which runs to the rear of the machine,'as best shown in Figs. 1 and 8, and is connected to an arm a fastened to the transverse shaft a". Fastened to the shaft a and within easy reach of the operator is the operating lever a", which is locked in position by the toothed segment a. It will be seen that the operation of the lever a" rocks the shaft a? and also rocks the arm a, which pulls on the rod 0., and through the medium of the bell-crank lever a and link o carries the feed roll a: in and out, and adjusts its tension to the other roll. Secured to the hub or sleeve 14 of the wheels J are the sprocket wheels j Mounted on the rear of the frame j is a shaft j which runs transversely of the machine. Secured to the shaft j by means of ordinary ratchet clutches are the sprocket wheels j which are driven by the chain 7' from the sprocket 7' as shown in Figs. 1 and 5, allowing the shaft to turneven though one wheel J were standing still, as when turning.

Referring to Figs. 5, 7 and 8: Mounted on shaft 7' and located in the center, is the sprocket wheel j which drives a counter shaft j situated somewhat above and to the front of 7' through the medium of the sprocket chain j and the sprocket wheel j on the shaft 7'. Fastened to the outer end of the shaft j, as shown in Fig. 5, are the bevel gears j which mesh with the bevel gears j in the horizontal shaft 7' Secured to the outer end of the shaft j" is the sprocket wheel 9' which transmits motion to the chain 7', to the sprocket 7' and on the shaft j. Securely mounted on the shaft 7' at its forward end is the bevel gear j", which in turn meshes with the bevel gear 7' which is secured to the sprocket wheel j engaging the feed chain e. The shaft j is mounted at its forward end in the bearing j which is secured to the running board or guide j for the feed chain l6. The shaft j is carried at its outer end in the bearing 7' mounted upon the pipe frame 7'. Secured to the shaft also provide improved means of adjusting the beater or knocker bars. novel features of my machine are clearly set forth in the foregoing specification.

I claim: 1. In a corn husking machine, the combination of toothed feed chain mechanism, a pair of feed rollers having spiral grooves mounted back of said toothed feed chain mechanism and adapted to engage the stalks of thematerial to be operated upon, and ear removing mechanism located between said feed rollers and the feed chain mechanism and adapted to remove the ears from the stalks.

'2. In a. corn husking machine, the combination of toothed feed chain mechanism, roller mechanism mounted back of said toothed feed chain mechanism and adapted to engage the stalks of material to be operated upon, ear removing mechanism located between the roller mechanism and the feed chain mechanism and adapted to remove the cars from the stalks, and supplemental feed rollers mounted adjacent to said gathering mechanism and adapted to receivev the stalks therefrom and to carry the same rearwardly.

3. In a corn husking machine, the combination of toothed feed chain mechanism, roller mechanism mounted back of said toothed feed chain mechanism and adapted to engage the stalks of material to be operated upon, ear removing mechanism located between the roller mechanism and the feed chain mechanism and adapted to remove the cars from the stalks, and Withdrawing rollers located above said feed rollers adapted to draw upwardly broken tops of stalks.

nation of toothed feed chain mechanism, roller mechanism" mounted back of said toothed feed chain mechanism and adapted to engage the stalks of material to be operated upon, ear removing mechanism located between the roller mechanism and the feed chain mechanism and adapted to remove the cars from the stalks, supplemental feed rollers mounted adjacent to said gathering mechanism and adapted to receive the stalks therefrom and to carry the same rearwardly, and withdrawing rollers located above said feed rollers adapted to draw upwardly broken topsof stalks.

5. In a corn husking machine, the combination of toothed feed chain mechanism, a pair of feed rollers having spiral grooves mounted back of said toothed feed chain mechanism and adapted to engage the stalks of the material tobeoperated upon, and a rotary beaterlocated between said feed rollers and the feed chain mechanism and adapted to remove the cars from the stalks.

6. In a corn husking machine, forwardly and downwardly inclined feed rollers, feed These and other chains extending from the nism mounted between 4. In a corn husking machine, the combi-- chains extending forwardly from the lower end of said feed rollers, said feed chains-being inclined at a smaller angle to the horizontal than are said feed rollers, gathering forwardeend of said feed chains and extending rearwardly and upwardly and substantially parallel tosaid feed rollers, and ear removing mechasaid feed rollers and said gathering chains. k i

7. In a corn husking machine, forwardly and downwardly inclined feed rollers, feed chains extending forwardly from the lower end ofvsaid feed rollers, said feed chains being inclined at a smaller angle to the horizontal than are said feed rollers, gathering chains extending from the forward end of said feed chains and extending rearwardly and upwardly and substantially parallel to mounted between said feed rollers and said gathering chains, and withdrawing rollers mounted above said ear removing mechanism adapted:to draw upwardly broken tops of stalks.

9. In acorn husking machine, forwardly and downwardly inclined feed rollers, feed chains extending rearwardly from the lower end of said feed rollers, said feed chains be ing inclined at a smaller angle tothe horizontal than are said feed rollers, gathering chains'extending from'the forward end of said feed chains and extending rearwardly and upwardly and substantially parallel to said feed rollers, ear removing mechanism mounted between said feed rollers and said gathering chains, and auxiliary feed rollers mounted above said ear removing mechanism for receiving the stalks from said gathering chains and feeding the same rearwardly.

10. In a corn husking machine, the combination of a frame, feed rollers, a pair of diverging sprocket chains' adapted to travel in front of said rollers, mechanism for drivin said rollers and chains, lugs formed on sald chains, and a flexible belt fastened to said lugs and adapted to hold and let go the stalks. I

' 11. In a corn husking machine. thercombiear-removing mechanism, downwardly exiaeomv 3' and close to the bearing 7' is a sprocket wheel j which communicates motion through the chain 7' tov the sprocket wheel j mounted on the shaft 2' of the short feed roll Mounted on the shaft 11 is the gear j meshing with the gear 7'" of the other feed roller 2'. Fastened to the gear j is the sprocket 7' which in turn communicates motion to the sprocket wheel k on the shaft of the corrugated roll it through the medium of the chain 7'. The bevel gear is is fastened to the vertical stud shaft is carried in the bearing 10 secured to the angle-iron supports extending from the frame 1' and meshes with the bevel gear j Fastened to the upper end of the shaft is a sprocket wheel [a (best shown in Fig. 7), which drives the chain k extending to the front of the machine, and engaging the sprocket wheel k mounted on the shaft is which drives the sprocket wheel engaging 'the short feed chain 6 Referring now to Figs. 5 and 6: Mounted on the shaft j is a sprocket wheel Z which drives the chain P, which in turn passes under the sprocket wheel Z mounted on the shaft 1* of the lower feed. roller a, then over the sprocket Z mounted on the shaft 1 of the outer feed roller a, then over an idler I mounted in a bracket l supported on the angle-iron frame f It will thus be seen that the feed rollers a and 0: are driven toward each other so as to force the stalks downward. The feed roller shafts Z and l are journaled in bearings Z at their rear ends, and are supported on the cross angleiron mounted on the frame j. The heater bars E mounted on the beater-bar shaft E are preferably constructed so that they can be adjusted vertically or horizontally, so as to regulate the force and height of beater bars for difl'erent heights of corn. Mounted on the angle-iron frame j is the yoke or bail M, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5, comprising a long rod or body portion m adapted to pivot in the bearings m at each end, which are secured to the frame j At the outward ends of the rods m are upturned arms m upon which is pivoted the bail or yoke m having horizontally inward projecting arms m which support the beater bar shaft E a the front and rear ends.

Pivotally connected to the beater bar shaft E is the downwardly extending link m which is connected at its lower end to the forked link m which is hung or pivoted about the shaft l of the outer feed roller m. Fastened to the rear. end of the feed roller shaft Z? is a gear a meshing with the gear a mounted on the outer end of the swinging link m Alongside of the gear a, and preferably integral therewith, is thesprocket wheel a which engages the chain-n which drives the sprocket wheel 11., securely faS- toned to the heater bar shaft E. it will be seen that by the medium of said mechanism motion is imparted to the beater bars E, y

its center upon the stud shaft 0 I he upper extending portion of the arm 0 has pivotally connected to it the rod 0 which connects the ears or lugs 0 of the shaft E of the beater bar E located at theright side of the machine. Securely mounted upon the shaft 0 (see Fig. 5), is a worm Wheel 0 meshing with the worm o mountedupon the vertical shaft 0 which has secured at its upper end an operating handle 0 adapted to be locked in any suitable manner. Surrounding the vertical shaft 0 is the hollow shaft'or pipe 0 mounted in bearings 0 carried upon the yoke pipe frame 9'. secured to thh lower end of the hollow shaft 0 is the Worm omwhich meshes with the worm wheel 0 (see Figs. 5 and 7). Mounted on the horizontal shaft 0 which extends across the rear of the ma chine, and journaled in the bearings o carried on the running boards j, and at the upper end of the hollow shaft 0 is rigidly connected the operating handle 0'. Fastened to the outer ends of the shaft 0 (see Figs. 5, 6 and 13), are the arms 10 which have pivotally connected to them the downwardly extending arms p which connect with the ears or lugs o and 0 respectively which are connected to the beater bar shafts E and E". It will be seen that if the handle 0 is rotated it turns the hollow. shaft 0" but not the solid shaft This revolves the worm 0 which in turn revolvesthe worm wheel 0, thus rotating the shaft o and swinging the arm 12 up or down, which in turn raises or lowers the beater bar E and also revolves the worm wheel'o, thus causing the beater bar to approach the center of the machine when raised and to recede from it when lowered, thus causin it to j constantly follow the line of the inclined corn stalks. Again, ifthe handle 0 is rotated, it turns the shaft 0, which revolves the worm wheel 0, which inturn revolves the worm wheel 0", thus causing the lower and upper end of the arm to swing in or out, and in turn moving the beater har E horizontally through the rods 0' andot Mounted on the beater bar shafts E and E are fly-wheels E and E to maintainthe momentum of the shafts when the beater bar is knocking 0d the ears-of corn.

Referring to Figsfi, 6 and 8: Mounted on the center shaft j is the gear 9 engaging the gear 9? coimected to the universal Joints Hit net

on the left-hand side of the shaft j is a bevel gear 1 engaging the bevel gear (1 mounted in the bearing (1" carried on the conveyer H. Preferably journaled at the outer end of the bearing 9 is the sprocket wheel driving the chain which extends below and engages the sprocket wheel mounted upon the shaft (1 journaled at the lower end of the conveyer box I and having a sprocket wheel 9 engaging the conveyer chain H carrying the feed blades H.

It will be seen that motion is hereby imparted to the delivery convcyer H from the driving shaft Integral with the bevel gear 9 is the serrated hub or collar (1 adapted to engage the serrated sleeve or clutch collar 1', which is secured'to the projecting hub of the sprocket wheel J G by the ordinary spline or feather. Surrounding the shaft y' and bearing against the serrated collar 7- is the coiled spring '2" held in position by the collar 1' so as to keep the serrated sleeve 1' in engagement with the serrated hub Q12 of the gear The clutch collar 1' is thrown out of engagement with the gear g by the medium of the operating lever 1 connected at its lower end to the side link 11* engaging the clutch collar 1'. The operating lever 1- may be locked in any suitable manner, as by anotched segment 1"", as shown. \Vhen the clutch sleeve 1' is disengaged with the gear 1*, it will be seen that the delivery conveyer I is thrown out of operation.

Integral with the sprocket wheel j,

which is loosely mounted upon the shaft 1',

is the serrated hub 8 adapted to engage the serrated clutch sleeve 8 fastened to the shaft by the ordinary spline or feather to allow it to move back and forth and still turn. Surrounding the shaft j and bearing against the serrated sleeve 8 is the coiled spring 8 held in position by the collar 8 so as to always keep the clutch sleeve in mesh with the sprocket wheel j. The clutch collar s is thrown in and out of engagement with the sprocket wheel by the medium of the operating lever s. Pivoted to the lower end of the'lever s are theqlinks s which engage the clutch member 8 The lever 8 may be locked in any suitable way, as, for instance, by the notched segment 8 When the clutch 8 is thrown in or out of engagement with the sprocket j", it will be seen that the operation of the whole machine is stopped, as is necessary when not workfingers adapted to engage the corn stalks and feed them along, or prevent them from silient, or are able to give when they engage some obstruction on the corn stalks, or the butt end of a corn stalk, in their operation of feeding the stalks downward and ahead. The hook or finger in general 6 is provided with a tapering point t which engages the corn stalk. The body portion of the point t is provided with a couple of parallel ears t pivotally connected to a lug t on the chain by means of the screw or bolt 0*. The lug z is provided with an ear If which bears between the cars If. The ear 1 which is adjacent to the tapering point t has a depending boss 22 around which is wrapped the coiled spring t one end of which t is fastened to the lug The other end t of the coiled spring t engages a projection 25 on the washer t which is securely fastened to the boss or projection t by the toothed projection t. through the ears t is a pin 6" (best seen in Fig. 12) which engages the nose or lug t onthe ear t, acting as a stop for the tapering feed tip t. It will be seen that if the tip 15 engages any obstructions, it is depressed and immediately returned by the action of the spring t. By referring to Figs. 15 and 16, it will be seen that the wheel or driver J is preferably constructed of an outer band or rim U securely fastened to the radially spaced spokes 10 mounted in the hubs or spider u which is integral with the sleeve a which is fastened to the shaft or axle J Radially spaced and preferably located between the spokes It are the blades or fins u adapted to move in and out through the slide bearings u secured to the rim U. The blades u? are offset or staggered transversely of the rim U and have inwardly projecting tapering arms it which are pivotally connected at u to the transverse and radially operating arms 117. ,The arms 11 are pivoted at u to the arms or bearings u whichare integral with or se- "curely fastened to the sleeve or hub 1.0

The outward ends of the operating arms a cam slot u of the disk u which is loosely mounted upon the shaft J and is stationary except when rotated by the operator.

It will be seen that when the wheel J is rotating and the disk a is stationary, as the arms u rotate about the center of the wheel and travel in the cam slot u, the blades or shields u are moved in and out according to the dwell of the cam slot. \Vhen the wheels are driving or pulling the cam is so rotated that the blades will project beyond the circumference of the wheel, and enter the ground at its lowest point,

Passing tending feed rollers, all positioned within said frame, means for driving said mechanism and rollers, lower bearings for said rollers, lugs on said bearings extending rearwardly bevond the ends of the rollers, a pivot for said lugs mounted back of the end of one of said rolls, and spring means slidably mounted on the main frame for supporting said lugs in said pivot.

12. In a corn husking machine, the combination of a frame, power transmitting mechanism, gathering mechanism, ear-removing mechanism and feed rollers mounted in said frame, a bearing'for the forward end of one of said rollers, said hearing comprising a pin inserted in the end of said roller, a lug for supporting said pin, said lug being pivotally supported at a point to the rear of the forward end of said roller.

13. In a corn husking machine, the combination of a frame, power transmitting mechanism and feed rollers mounted in said frame, a bearing forcthe forward end of one of said rollers and extending into the end of said roller, and means for pivotally supporting said bearing at a point in rear of the front end of said roller.

14. In a corn husking machine, the combination of a frame, power transmitting mechanism, gathering mechanism, ear-removing mechanism and feed rollers mounted in said frame, a bearing. for the forward end of one of said rollers, said bearing comprising a pin inserted in the end of said roller, a lug for supporting said pin, said lug being pivotally supported at a point to the rear of the forward end of said roller, and means for adjusting the position of said bearing from the drivers seat. W

15. In acorn husking machine, the combination of aframe, power transmitting mechanism and feed rollers mounted in said frame, a bearing for the forward end of one of said rollers and extending into the end of said roller, means for pivotally supporting said bearing at a point in rear of the front end of said roller, and means for adjusting the position of said bearing from the drivers seat.

16. In a corn husking machine, the combination of gathering mechanism adapted to engage the stalks of material to be operated upon, a rotary beater adjacent to said gathering mechanism and adapted to remove the ears from the stalks, and means for laterally adjusting said beater.

17. In a corn husking machine, the combination of gathering mechanism adapted to engage the stalks of material to be operated upon, a rotary beater adjacent to said gathering mechanism and adapted to remove the ears from the stalks, and means for vertically adjusting said beater.

18. In a corn husking machine, the combination of gathering mechanism adapted to engage the stalks of material to be operated upon, a rotary beater adjacent to said gathering mechanism and adapted to remove the ears from the stalks, and means for laterally and verticallyadjusting said beater.

19. In a corn husking machine, thecombination of gathering mechanism adapted to engage the stalks of material to be operated upon, a rotary beater adjacent to said gathering mechanism and adapted to remove the ears from the stalks, and means for laterally and vertically adjusting said beater, said means comprising a double yoke member mounted on the frame inavhich said beater bar is hung and a series of rods and links operable from the drivers seat.

20. In a corn husking machine, the combination of gathering mechanism adapted to engage the stalks of material to be operated upon, a rotary beater adjacent to said gathering mechanism and adapted to remove the ears from the stalks, and means for laterally and vertically adjusting said beater, said means comprising a double yoke member mounted on the frame in which said beater bar is hung, and a series of rods and links and worm gear adjustment operable from the drivers seat.

21. In a corn husking machine, a frame, a rotary beater bar mounted in said frame adapted to knock the ears from the stalks, feed rollers and feed chains for feeding stalks to said beater bar,'mechanism for operating said beater bar and feed rollers and chains, and shield blades adjacent to saidposition in said frame adapted to knock the ears from the stalks, feed rollers likewise mounted in an inclined position adjacent to said beater bar, mechanism for operating said beater bar and said feed rollers, and shield blades adjacent to said beater bar for preventing the stalks being operated upon from becoming entangled in said operating mechanism.

23. In a corn harvesting machine, a frame, feed chains mounted in said frame for feeding stalks into a position to be operated upon, a series of spring fingers carried by said chains for engaging the stalks and adapted to be! depressed when striking an obstruction, and a series of stops for limiting the movement of said fingers.

24. In a two-row corn harvestin machine a frame, a pair of beater bars mounted in opposite sides of said frame adapted to knock the ears from the stalks, gathering and feeding mechanism adjacent to each Q 1,1eop77 beater bar for feeding stalks to the respee- Signed by me at Centralia, Illinois, this tive heater, 9. pair of convergin% conveyers 19th day of July 1909.

located adjacent to each beater ar for receiving the ears removed from the stalks, and B1 RON SMALL 5 a transverse conveyer located at the rear of Witnesses:

themechine into which the first-mentioned J. W. KENDALL,

conveyers discherge. D. A. Rrrcnm. 

